Chap 12: Personality (1)

Question 1

Define personality.

Answer 1

Personality refers to an individual’s unique constellation of consistent behavioural traits.

Question 2

Define distinctiveness.

Answer 2

The behavioral differences among people reacting to the same situation.

Question 3

Explain the Big Five by Robert McCrae and Paul Costa.

Answer 3

OCEAN theory

1. Openness to experience: associated with curiosity, flexibility, and imaginativeness.
2. Conscientiousness. Conscientious people tend to be diligent, well-organized, punctual, and dependable
3. Extraversion: characterized as outgoing, sociable, upbeat, friendly, assertive
4. Agreeableness: sympathetic, trusting, cooperative, modest, and straightforward.
5. Neuroticism: anxious, hostile, self-conscious, insecure, and vulnerable

Question 4

What were the 3 reasons Freud was considered controversial among his peers?

Answer 4

1. Arguing that unconscious forces are at play in personality.
2. Claiming that adult personalities are governed by childhood experiences.
3. Way too into sex ( horndog Freud )

Question 5

How did Freud divide personality structure?

Answer 5

Id, ego and superego.

Question 6

Explain Id.

Answer 6

• The primitive component and is governed by biological urges.
• Works solely on the pleasure principle( immediate gratification).
• The id engages in primary-process thinking, which is primitive, illogical, irrational, and fantasy-oriented.

Question 7

Which component of Freud’s personality structure is considered the reservoir of psychic energy?

Answer 7

Id

Question 8

Explain the ego.

Answer 8

• The decision-making component
• Works on the reality principle, which seeks
  to delay gratification of the id’s urges until appropriate outlets and situations can be found
• Engages in secondary-process thinking which is relatively rational, realistic, and oriented toward problem-solving.

Question 9

Explain the superego.

Answer 9

• The moral component
• Works on the morality principle
• Incorporates social standards about
  what represents right and wrong

Question 10

What are the 3 levels of consciousness by Freud?

Answer 10

1. The conscious consists of whatever one is aware of at a particular point in time
2. The preconscious contains material just beneath the surface of awareness that can easily be retrieved.
3. The unconsciousness contains memories, and desires that are well below the surface of conscious awareness

Question 11

Where in the levels of consciousness do the structures of personality operate?

Answer 11

The ego and superego operate at all three levels of awareness.

In contrast, the id is entirely unconscious,
expressing its urges at a conscious level through the ego

Question 12

Why did Freud emphasize sex and aggression?

Answer 12

1. Sex and aggression are subject to more complex and ambiguous social controls than other basic motives.
2. Aggressive and sexual drives are thwarted more regularly than other basic, biological urges.

Question 13

What does the ego worry about?

Answer 13

The ego is worried about:-

(1) the id getting out of control and
doing something terrible that leads to severe negative consequences

(2) the superego getting out of control and making you feel guilty about a real or imagined transgression

Question 14

Define defense mechanisms.

Answer 14

Defense mechanisms are largely unconscious reactions that protect a person from unpleasant emotions such as anxiety and guilt.

Question 15

Explain rationalization and repression.

Answer 15

Rationalization is creating false but plausible excuses to justify unacceptable behavior. For example, after cheating someone in a business transaction, you might reduce your guilt by rationalizing
that “everyone does it.”

Repression is keeping distressing thoughts and feelings buried in the unconscious.(motivated forgetting), ex: if you forget a dental appointment or the name of someone you don’t like, repression may be at work

Question 16

Explain projection and self-displacement.

Answer 16

Projection is attributing one’s thoughts, feelings, or motives to another. (ex: if lusting for a co-worker makes you feel guilty, you might attribute any latent sexual tension between the two of you to the other person’s desire to seduce you. )

Displacement is diverting emotional feelings (usually anger) from their source to a substitute target. ( ex: having a bad day at work and taking it out on someone when you get home)

Question 17

Explain reaction formation and regression.

Answer 17

Reaction formation is behaving in a way that’s exactly the opposite of one’s true feelings. (ex: many males who ridicule gay men are defending against their latent impulses)

Regression is a reversion to immature patterns of behavior.(ex: a driver stuck in traffic may get angry and throw a tantrum)

Question 18

Explain identification and sublimation.

Answer 18

Identification is bolstering self-esteem by forming an imaginary or real alliance with some person or group.( ex: a young child may idealize the actions and imitate the actions and behavior of somebody that they identify with and look up to)

Sublimation occurs when unconscious, unacceptable impulses are channeled into socially acceptable, perhaps even admirable, behaviors.(ex: someone with anger issues may channel their aggressive urges into sports)

Question 19

________ is regarded as a relatively healthy defense mechanism.

Answer 19

Sublimation is regarded as a relatively healthy defense mechanism.

Question 20

Define psychosexual stages.

Answer 20

Psychosexual stages are developmental
periods with a characteristic sexual focus that leave their mark on adult personality